Uncomforting log-in bizarrness

[uoba]

Ok, here's a strange one:

I have 2 machines (both G4's) running 10.2.2, they have the usual log-in username and passwords. The passwords are similar but with a variation at the end of each.

Anyway, I just logged into my workstation with the password of the other machine, for example (don't worry, these passwords have no relation whatsoever to my proper ones ):

G4 - 1
username: username1
password: passwordAB

G4 - 2
username: username2
password: passwordABAB

I logged into G4 -1 with username1 (it's own username) but accidentally typed the pass for G4 -2, and it worked?!!

There is only a slight variation between the 2 passwords, but the usernames are totally different, can anyone shed some light!!

 

[bbloke]

If I am not mistaken, Unix uses 8 letter passwords. Hence, if your real passwords bear the same sort of similarity as the example you have shown, the "AB" and "ABAB" get lopped off, making them both the same! Therefore, you might want to change your passwords...




Hope that solves it!

 

[uoba]

Oooh, nobody told me that ... thanks bbloke, makes sense.